Having entered the Christmas season, we ask those who find the work of the Mystagogy Resource Center beneficial to them to help us continue our work with a generous financial gift as you are able. As an incentive, we are offering the following booklet.

In 1909 the German philosopher Arthur Drews wrote a book called "The Myth of Christ", which New Testament scholar Bart D. Ehrman has called "arguably the most influential mythicist book ever produced," arguing that Jesus Christ never existed and was simply a myth influenced by more ancient myths. The reason this book was so influential was because Vladimir Lenin read it and was convinced that Jesus never existed, thus justifying his actions in promoting atheism and suppressing the Orthodox Church in the Soviet Union. Moreover, the ideologues of the Third Reich would go on to implement the views of Drews to create a new "Aryan religion," viewing Jesus as an Aryan figure fighting against Jewish materialism. 

Due to the tremendous influence of this book in his time, George Florovsky viewed the arguments presented therein as very weak and easily refutable, which led him to write a refutation of this text which was published in Russian by the YMCA Press in Paris in 1929. This apologetic brochure titled "Did Christ Live? Historical Evidence of Christ" was one of the first texts of his published to promote his Neopatristic Synthesis, bringing the patristic heritage to modern historical and cultural conditions. With the revival of these views among some in our time, this text is as relevant today as it was when it was written. 

Never before published in English, it is now available for anyone who donates at least $20 to the Mystagogy Resource Center upon request (please specify in your donation that you want the book). Thank you.



April 12, 2010

A Cartoon About Basic Mormon Doctrines



I showed this to a Mormon elder years ago and a missionary just to see their reaction. But all they wanted to talk about was a burning in their bosom and the wonders Mormonism would have in my family life. In other words, they did all they could to avoid discussing it.

Though I agree the video is a simplification, from my studies of Mormonism I think it accurately portrays true Mormon doctrines (some of which have been altered over the years to fit contemporary societal standards).

The source of this video provides references from Mormon sources to back up the origins of these doctrines below:

0:20 - 0:45 - King Follett Discourse (History of the Church Vol 6 pg 302-317)

0:54 - 1:00 - Abraham 3

1:03 - 2:20 - Gospel Principles Ch. 2-3

2:20 - 2:35 Official Statement by 1st presidency 08/17/49 and 08/17/51 and Joseph Fielding Smith in Doctrines of Salvation 1:65-66 2nd Nephi 5:21

2:38 - Gospel Principles Ch. 3

2:40 - Pre-1982, 2 Nephi 30:6

2:44 - No longer taught, as he said "early mormon prophets". Brigham Young Journal of Discourses vol 1 pg. 50-51 and Wilford Woodruffs Journal

3:20 - The Seer pg. 172; Brigham Young Journal of Discourses vol. 1, p. 346; Orson Hyde Journal of Discourses, vol 2, p. 210

3:28 - Doctrines and Covenants 113 and Isa. 11

3:32 - Journal of Discourses 13:309

3:41 - 3 Nephi

4:03 - 4 Nephi, Moroni

4:20 - 4:30 - Moroni 10

4:37 - 4:50 - State of NY VS Joseph Smith "The Glass Looker"; other Court Documents

4:43 - 4:50 - 1826-1830 convicted of fraud, admitted "peep-stoning" was fake.

5:01 - Joseph Smith History 1:19

5:16 - 5:21 - Howard W Hunter "your temple recommend" New Era Apr 1995, 6

5:22 - Russell M Nelson "Spirit of Elijah" Ensign Nov 1994, 84 and Doctrines and Covenants 128, 138:33

5:27 - Doctrines and Covenants 132:17-20

5:36 - Robert L Millet, "Joseph Smith Among The Prophets" Ensign Jun 1994, 19

5:49 - :52 - D&C 132

6:03 - History of the Church Vol. pg. 408-412

6:12 - He died in a shootout.

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